It’s easy to get lost in the noise of information these days, and sometimes, even well-meaning people spread things that aren’t quite true. That’s what we call “misinformation” – when false stuff goes around, but the person sharing it doesn’t know it’s fake. Then there’s “disinformation,” which is a whole other beast. That’s when someone deliberately cooks up false information with the sole purpose of tricking people. Think of it like an innocent mistake versus a calculated lie. While both mess with the facts, the intent behind them is what sets them apart.
But this isn’t just an academic exercise in defining terms; it’s about a very real, very pressing problem in Ghana, affecting how everyone, from everyday citizens to the highest office, understands the world. The consequences are far-reaching and, frankly, quite dangerous. I remember vividly the day I truly grasped the gravity of this issue. It was June 21, 2025, at the launch of the Media and Information Literacy Club – UG Chapter at the University of Ghana. I was there as one of the founding members, even getting to host the event, and one expert’s words burned into my memory. Though I can’t recall his name, his insight was a game-changer for me, forever altering how I approach information. He challenged us, as budding media and information literates, to never take anything at face value. “You have to conduct thorough verification before accepting information,” he urged. His example was simple but profound: the TV3 logo. He pointed out its distinct red, yellow, and green, with black “TV3” lettering. If you see just the colors without the specific inscription, it’s not the real deal. “Similarity does not make it authentic, and we have to be careful about such things.” That hit me like a ton of bricks. Since then, I’ve become almost comically meticulous, scrutinizing every logo or image I encounter online, comparing it against the original. It might sound a bit obsessive, but I’ve realized that the masterminds behind disinformation often exploit the tiny details we usually gloss over. Our only defense is to pay critical attention to those very details.
We saw this play out dramatically in the “Christina Koch misinformation saga” around April 2026. Social media was abuzz with claims, even amplified by some big Ghanaian media houses, that NASA astronaut Christina Koch had brought Ghana’s flag to the Moon on the Artemis II mission. An image circulated, seemingly confirming this incredible feat. The emotional impact was huge – the pride of Ghana on the moon! But here’s the rub: that image, purported to be from Artemis II, was actually from December 12, 2019. Christina Koch herself had shared it while on the International Space Station during her record-breaking “longest single spaceflight by a woman.” Her original post wasn’t about the moon or Artemis II; it was a heartfelt reflection on her time as an exchange student in Ghana and how that experience shaped her. This incident raises a critical question: while we’ll always have those who intentionally spread lies, what about the journalists and media outlets who, without malice, amplified this false narrative? Why did some not bother to check NASA’s official channels or Koch’s verified accounts before publishing? Media professionals aren’t just posting for fun; millions rely on them for accurate information. When they inadvertently spread falsehoods, they misinform the public, erode trust, and shape perceptions based on lies. This erosion of trust is, in its own right, an existential threat to journalism and public discourse, demanding serious attention. The situation escalated dramatically when Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, re-shared the misattributed image on Facebook on April 12, 2026, announcing plans to honor Koch.
The spread of this misinformation then reached an even more alarming level, straight to the very top. On April 9, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama himself publicly commended Christina Koch for allegedly carrying Ghana’s flag into space during the Artemis II mission. He wrote on Facebook, “Her gesture of hoisting the Ghanaian flag in outer space was a deeply touching moment for every Ghanaian. It is a testament to the fact that no matter how far one travels, even into the vastness of space, the friendships made and the lessons learned stay with you.” You can imagine the national pride and emotional resonance such a statement would carry. But again, NASA records offered no support for this claim regarding Artemis II. The image of Koch with the Ghanaian flag was, as established, from 2019, taken aboard the International Space Station, not the Artemis II mission. This incident sent shivers down my spine. It raised deeply troubling questions about the information channels feeding the President—the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces. If misinformation can penetrate the highest office in the nation unchecked, the potential consequences for national decision-making could, one day, be catastrophic. It’s why I firmly believe that misinformation isn’t just an annoyance; it is an existential threat that needs to be taken with the utmost seriousness.
This pattern of unverified information gaining traction wasn’t an isolated incident. The country was rocked by another major misinformation event involving Chef Smith. On July 2, 2024, he invited media houses to declare himself the Guinness World Record holder for the longest cooking marathon, boasting a staggering 802 hours and 25 minutes. Almost every major media house in Ghana eagerly reported this sensational claim. It was only after the news had spread like wildfire, capturing national pride and excitement, that some journalists finally thought to contact Guinness World Records for verification. GWR, of course, clarified that the claim was false. But by then, the celebratory damage was already done; the public had invested emotionally in a false achievement. This incident painfully underscored the failure of some media practitioners to prioritize verification before publication. Why couldn’t media houses have reached out to Guinness World Records beforehand to authenticate such an extraordinary claim? Instead, many became unwitting conduits, spreading misinformation nationwide.
Then there was the notorious “Dr. UN embarrassment” on August 28, 2020. A man named Kwame Fordjour, better known as Dr. UN, staged what he called the “7th Global Leadership Service to Humanity Awards.” He handed out plaques branded as the “UN Kofi Annan Excellence Awards” to a star-studded list of individuals from entertainment, politics, media, and business. The event generated massive publicity, drawing in high-profile personalities like rapper Sarkodie, broadcaster Berla Mundi, musician D-Black, and even the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to name just a few. The next day, the entire nation watched in collective embarrassment as investigations revealed that Dr. UN had absolutely no affiliation with the United Nations or the late Kofi Annan. He was a complete fraud with no verifiable academic or international credentials. This whole fiasco could have been easily avoided. A simple check through official UN platforms or the Kofi Annan Foundation before the event spiraled into national attention would have exposed the scam immediately. It’s yet another painful reminder of the importance of proactive verification. Even in the fast-paced world of sports news, misinformation thrives. Just recently, on a Monday morning, May 18, 2026, a journalist shared a flyer in a sports WhatsApp group, claiming Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz had released his provisional 55-man squad. Another journalist in the group, thankfully, was quick to debunk it. A few moments later, as I scrolled through Facebook, I saw a prominent Ghanaian media house, with over 1.3 million followers, broadcasting the exact same false information. It was deeply disheartening, knowing that over a million unsuspecting followers had just been misinformed. The first, most obvious point of verification for such a crucial announcement should have been the official handles of the Ghana Football Association and the Black Stars.
In conclusion, the pervasive spread of misinformation in Ghana poses a threat as severe as the notorious illegal mining (galamsey) that devastates our environment. Misinformation doesn’t just twist facts; it actively shapes critical decisions, irrevocably damages reputations, manipulates public opinion, and systematically weakens the credibility of our most vital institutions. When we allow falsehoods to flourish, we erode the very foundations of trust necessary for a functioning society, good governance, ethical journalism, and healthy national discourse. Until the rigorous practice of verification transforms from an optional afterthought into an ingrained cultural habit, misinformation will continue its dangerous work, putting at risk the very society we strive to inform and improve.